We may now conclude our review of their respective lives by observing that while Sulla performed greater achievements, Lysander committed fewer crimes:  and that while we assign the palm for moderation and self-denial to the latter, that for courage and generalship be bestowed upon the former.

LIFE OF KIMON.

Peripoltas, the soothsayer, after he had brought back King Opheltas and the people under him to Boeotia, left a family which remained in high repute for many generations, and chiefly settled in Chaeronea, which was the first city which they conquered when they drove out the barbarians.  As the men of this race were all brave and warlike, they were almost reduced to extinction in the wars with the Persians, and in later times with the Gauls during their invasion of Greece, so that there remained but one male of the family, a youth of the name of Damon, who was surnamed Peripoltas, and who far surpassed all the youth of his time in beauty and spirit, although he was uneducated and harsh-tempered.  The commander of a detachment of Roman soldiers who were quartered during the winter in Chaeronea conceived a criminal passion for Damon, who was then a mere lad, and as he could not effect his purpose by fair means it was evident that he would not hesitate to use force, as our city was then much decayed, and was despised, being so small and poor.  Damon, alarmed and irritated at the man’s behaviour, formed a conspiracy with a few young men of his own age, not many, for secrecy’s sake, but consisting of sixteen in all.  These men smeared their faces with soot, excited themselves by strong drink, and assaulted the Roman officer just at daybreak, while he was offering sacrifice in the market-place.  They killed him and several of his attendants, and then made their escape out of the city.  During the confusion which followed, the senate of the city of Chaeronea assembled and condemned the conspirators to death—­a decree which was intended to excuse the city to the Romans for what had happened.  But that evening, when the chief magistrates, as is their custom, were dining together, Damon and his party broke into the senate-house, murdered them all, and again escaped out of the city.  It chanced that at this time Lucius Lucullus was passing near Chaeronea with an armed force.  He halted his troops, and, after investigating the circumstances, declared that the city was not to blame, but had been the injured party.  As for Damon, who was living by brigandage and plunder of the country, and who threatened to attack the city itself, the citizens sent an embassy to him, and passed a decree guaranteeing his safety if he would return.  When he returned they appointed him president of the gymnasium, and afterwards, while he was being anointed in the public baths, they murdered him there.